I’m back in Korea after quite a while. On my first day I had some errands to run in Sinchon, and when I was wondering where to go for dinner afterwards, this place, Yuil Gopchang, was recommended to me.
The sign
“Original Geobuk Hwangso Gopchang-gui”… it feels like they stuck every latest gopchang trend onto one name. Looking at the sign alone, you do wonder whether this place is going to make it, and in fact the gopchang place across the street was busier. But so what? As long as the food is good, that’s all that matters.
The menu
Considering it’s Sinchon, the prices are very kind.
Side dishes and liver/omasum
The liver is ridiculously fresh. Forget everything else, I’d come back just for this. In Japan they’d charge 800 yen a plate for it, and here it’s free with unlimited refills! Having gotten used to Japanese ways, I end up being moved by the smallest things.
Mussel soup
Mussels at a gopchang place -_- I figured it was just there to round out the spread, but since you eat gopchang with soju anyway, it’s not so strange if you think of it as something to go with the soju.
Seasoned chives
A standard side dish. I guess this is the kind of food a foreign worker, worn out from a long business trip overseas, craves back in Korea.
Kkakdugi
Nothing special…
Gopchang
The portion is bigger than I expected. The gopchang itself is pretty average, but given the price and location I’m grateful for it. Besides, there aren’t many gopchang places worth going to around here. A place called Uridol Gopchang in Hongdae, where I had a great meal before, turns out to have closed when I looked it up this time. I was really satisfied this time, so next time I’m in Korea I’ll have to stop by a gopchang place again. I should probably start searching now.
The Hongdae/Sinchon area feels subtly different compared to when I lived in Korea. Or maybe it’s me who has changed. In the meantime I’ve become a blogger, become a food lover, picked up a wine hobby, travelled all over and met all sorts of people. Meeting people I used to know and talking with them, I realize how far I’ve really come. I plan to come back to Korea often from now on, but thinking that the old wistful feeling probably won’t be there anymore makes me a little sad. Seeing as I’m talking about gloomy stuff over gopchang with liver and omasum on the side, I guess I really have become a middle-aged guy. You should drink in moderation, but at times like this Korea’s drinking culture does come in handy.